The Imperial Dominion of the South's Legislature

[Vote UKIP!]

Aye

[Progressive Realist]

Aye

[Yelnoc]

The bill passes and awaits the Emperor's signature.

[Yelnoc]

Now for this bill, created by Legislator Taft.

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to use cell phones or distracting electronic devices while driving.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

Personally, I think this takes things too far.  I would support a ban on texting while driving, as that is incredibly dangerous, but talking and driving is not difficult and often necessary.  What do you guys think?

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

     It's an amendment & has to go to a vote before the region, which I will do shortly.

     As for this bill, I would generally prefer that such actions be made to be enhancements on penalties for any accidents that occur in their commission. While using a distracting device while driving is generally a bad idea, it doesn't particularly bother me if you can do it & not crash.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

Fair enough, amended!

But PiT, what if the accident leads to death? Then no one would be able to pay the fine! I admit that the use of cell phones was a bit off the mark, but this whole measure is meant to make people think twice before taking there eyes off the road for something non-essential. Accidents on the road can happen split second. When using the phone, admitedly, you can keep your eyes on it, but not while texting or messing around with some other distracting device.

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

     Typically, I think the damages would come out of the offender's estate. Of course, such an issue would have to be brought in civil court, since I'm pretty sure a defendant in a criminal case would have to be alive.

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

Fair enough, amended!

But PiT, what if the accident leads to death? Then no one would be able to pay the fine! I admit that the use of cell phones was a bit off the mark, but this whole measure is meant to make people think twice before taking there eyes off the road for something non-essential. Accidents on the road can happen split second. When using the phone, admitedly, you can keep your eyes on it, but not while texting or messing around with some other distracting device.

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

I want to propose amendment!

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement. shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

     Typically, I think the damages would come out of the offender's estate. Of course, such an issue would have to be brought in civil court, since I'm pretty sure a defendant in a criminal case would have to be alive.

That's true. It's just to prevent accidents though, Florida drivers are bad enough, knowing that Jacksonville drivers could possibly made worse terrifies me.

I want to propose amendment!

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement. shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

There essentially being no penalty for breaking the law, the point in that being?

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

I want to propose amendment!

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement. shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

There essentially being no penalty for breaking the law, the point in that being?

No. Just abolish such liberal thing as a fine after first offense.
Broke the law? Go for a walk or a bycicle.

[Yelnoc]

I want to propose amendment!

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement. shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

There essentially being no penalty for breaking the law, the point in that being?

No. Just abolish such liberal thing as a fine after first offense.
Broke the law? Go for a walk or a bycicle.

And if your job is 30 miles away?  Let's try not to starve people, here.  I think the bill is ok as is, but something has been nagging me.  I was trying to think of what it's missing, but I just can't put my finger on it.  Does anybody see any loopholes or unintended consequences with this bill.

[Mr. Taft Republican]

I want to propose amendment!

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement. shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

There essentially being no penalty for breaking the law, the point in that being?

No. Just abolish such liberal thing as a fine after first offense.
Broke the law? Go for a walk or a bycicle.

And if your job is 30 miles away?  Let's try not to starve people, here.  I think the bill is ok as is, but something has been nagging me.  I was trying to think of what it's missing, but I just can't put my finger on it.  Does anybody see any loopholes or unintended consequences with this bill.

Besides being a bit Nader-esque not particularly...Wait....insurances prices would rise for idiots! Its good on all sides!

[Yelnoc]

Well then, I guess we might as well put it up to a vote.

IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act

1. No person shall be allowed to text on cell phones while operating a vehicle.
2. Those caught breaking this law shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement. shall be fined up to $500.
3. Multiple offenders shall have their license suspended for review by the local DMV and law enforcement.

Aye

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

Aye

[Mr. Taft Republican]

Aye.

Side note: Computer is being weird, may not be on as often.

[Yelnoc]

And that's a quorum.  Bill awaits the Emperor's signature.

Oh, and there's nothing in the que.  Legislators; get creative!

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

     I am inherently wary about banning anything, though I can deal with it better now that it is limited to only texting, as opposed to cell phone use in general.



     On the IDS Cell Phone While Driving Ban Act: by the powers vested in me as Emperor of this region, I thus sign it into law.

     Be it resolved, X Emperor PiT

[Progressive Realist]

IDS Local Autonomy Act

1. Local governments in the IDS shall have the power to override any IDS legislation that they find objectionable, provided they have a 2/3 majority in the local governing body.
2. A Commission for Local Government shall be established in the IDS
3. Said Commission shall review all IDS legislation pertaining to local governemnt before it reaches the Emperor's desk
4. The Commission will make recommendations to the Emperor regarding legislation pertaining to local government, with respect to the Emperor's final decision.

[Yelnoc]

IDS Local Autonomy Act

1. Local governments in the IDS shall have the power to override any IDS legislation that they find objectionable, provided they have a 2/3 majority in the local governing body.
2. A Commission for Local Government shall be established in the IDS
3. Said Commission shall review all IDS legislation pertaining to local governemnt before it reaches the Emperor's desk
4. The Commission will make recommendations to the Emperor regarding legislation pertaining to local government, with respect to the Emperor's final decision.

If you could put this in the legislative introduction thread for book keeping purposes, that would be wonderful.  But yes, we can discuss this.  I don't see the purpose for expanding the government downwards, as we have no one to play at local levels.

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

IDS Local Autonomy Act

1. Local governments in the IDS shall have the power to override any IDS legislation that they find objectionable, provided they have a 2/3 majority in the local governing body.
2. A Commission for Local Government shall be established in the IDS
3. Said Commission shall review all IDS legislation pertaining to local governemnt before it reaches the Emperor's desk
4. The Commission will make recommendations to the Emperor regarding legislation pertaining to local government, with respect to the Emperor's final decision.

If you could put this in the legislative introduction thread for book keeping purposes, that would be wonderful.  But yes, we can discuss this.  I don't see the purpose for expanding the government downwards, as we have no one to play at local levels.

     This doesn't really need to be played, though. I could see interesting GM stories coming down the pipeline if we were to pass this.

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

IDS Welfare Drug Screening

Section 1: All adults with prior drug convictions applying for governmental income assistance in the Imperial Dominion of South must pass a drug screening free of illegal substances to receive benefits.

Section 2: The cost of the testing is paid for by the individual filing for benefits, but will be reimbursed upon producing a clean test.

Section 3: If the use of an illegal substance is detected on a test, that person is barred from receiving benefits for three years.

[Yelnoc]

Ping, we're already discussing a bill.  Why don't you comment on it, so that we can get it through; then we can move onto yours.

[pillage the village, trash the scene]

Local Autonomy Bill got my full support.

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

     The legislature needs more activity.

[Yelnoc]

     The legislature needs more activity.

I've been busy.  I still don't understand what the autonomy bill is supposed to accomplish, perhaps the sponsor could give me an explanation?